Both my parents were supportive of me in different ways. They never made me feel as if they were in competition with me. I felt supported that way. There were no put-downs or shaming but it was father who effectively communicated with me. My mother was primarily the authoritarian type parent who hardly ever asked anything but “yes” or “no” questions. It seemed she was more interested in children following directions.  My father on the other hand, loved to interact and stay “in the moment” with me.  While my mother as managing the household, my father was checked my homework every night and arranged tutoring sessions with my older siblings if he felt I needed academic assistance. He asked me probing questions and introduced or reviewed material step by step to make me think things through, logically. On many occasions, he talked and  listened to me express my thoughts.  He played with me;  sang songs with me;  danced with me and encouraged me to lead songs after he discovered I had singing ability. Overall, I loved the way my father made me feel valued as a communicator as he seemed to genuinely value and enjoy hearing my voice and my thoughts.

Now, as an educator, I try to emulate the same characteristics as my father when I am interacting with children. I love to hear them read picture stories and express their individuality in word and deed. I love to have one-on-one sessions  that allow them to express their feelings or make a personal statement. I love to sit down with them and play games that support academic and personal growth as in word, number, shape and color Bingo games. I love to teach them new tasks like my father did, one-step-at-a-time and ask them probing questions to make them think things through, logically and most of all, I love to hear their spontaneous voice. Interacting with children always takes me back emotionally to when I spent special moments communicating with my dad. I also believe this is why building relationships with others is so important to me today and I hope my classroom children will feel the same way I do about communicating and building relationships with others when they become adults in the future.